ion you
so courteously began with me yesterday?"

"Precisely, madam, precisely. There are no heaven-born courtiers. The
graces of manner are as much matter of acquirement as are the notes of
music. A delicate organization has the same disadvantage in the one case
that a fine ear has in the other. It substitutes an aptitude for what
ought to be pure acquirement. The people who are naturally well mannered
are like the people who sing by ear; and I need not say what inflictions
are both."

"And you really think, my Lord, that I may yet be able to enter a room
and leave it with becoming grace and dignity."

"You enter a room well, madam," said he, with a judicial slowness. "Now
that you have subdued the triumphant air I objected to, and assumed more
quietness--the blended softness with reserve--your approach is good, I
should say, extremely good. To withdraw is, however, far more difficult.
To throw into the deference of leave-taking--for it is always a
permission you seem to ask--the tempered sorrow of departure with the
sense of tasted enjoyment, to do this with ease and elegance, and not a
touch of the dramatic about it, is a very high success; and I grieve to
say, madam," added he, seriously, "it is a success not yet accorded you.
Would you do me the great favor to repeat our lesson of this morning--I
mean the courtesy with the two steps retiring, and then the slide?"

"If you do not think me well mannered, my Lord, you must at least
believe me very good-tempered," said she, flushing.

"Let me assure you, my Lady, that to the latter quality I attach
no importance whatever. Persons who respect themselves never visit
peculiarities of temperament on others. We have our infirmities of
nature, as we have our maladies; but we keep them for ourselves, or for
our doctor. It is the triumph of the well-bred world to need nothing but
good manners."

"What charming people! I take it that heaven must be peopled with
lords-in-waiting."

"Let me observe to your Ladyship that there is no greater enormity
in manners than an epigram. Keep this smartness for correspondence
exclusively, abstain from it strictly in conversation."

"I protest, my Lord, your lessons come so thick that I despair of
being able to profit by half of them. Meanwhile, if I am not committing
another solecism against good manners, I should like to say good-night."

Lord Culduff arose and walked to the door, to be ready to open it as
she approached. Meanwhi